Ajinomoto Requests Investigation of Lysine from China

On April 25, 2006, Ajinomoto Heartland LLC, filed a filed a "Section 337" complaint requesting that an unfair import investigation be instituted involving "Certain L-Lysine Seed Products Their Methods of Production and Genetic Constructs for Production."

The proposed respondents are: Global Bio-Chem Technology Group Co., Limited., Hong Kong; Changchun Dacheng Bio-Chem Engineering Development Co., Ltd., China; Changchun Baocheng Bio-Chem Development Co., Ltd., China; Changchun Dahe Bio Technology Development Co., Ltd., China and Bio-Chem Technology (HK) Limited, Hong Kong. The complaint has been designated as Docket No. 337-2482 for indexing in the Commission's database.

Such complaints typically include an allegation of intellectual property infringement and a request that the infringing godds be excluded from entry into the United States. The Commission now has 30-35 days from the filing date of the complaints in which to decide whether to institute the investigation. Upon institution, the proposed respondent will be served with the Complaint via postal mail and an Administrative Law Judge will schedule discovery, conduct a trial, and issue a written "Initial Determination," usually within about 10 months. Due to the expedited nature of these proceedings, and availability of general exclusion orders affecting non-parties, it is important to notify any potential importers of similar products as soon as possible.

Click here for an audio-visual Internet presentation on "Unfair Import Investigations at the U.S. International Trade Commission."